It may be the oldest sales slogan in the book: Try it before you buy it.

But that option is being exercised more frequently in this era of frugal spending.

Everyone knows you can rent a car to drive cross-country or a trailer to haul your stuff. But here is a list — by no means comprehensive — of a few unusual things you may not have realized that you can rent.

Working predominantly with Colorado artists and carrying everything from limited-edition prints to statuary, Clark also outfits show homes and sale homes with artwork. “If you want to display a bigger (sale) home, it helps to have some really nice art.”

She notes that this arrangement, which tends to be for several months at a time, is different from restaurants or cafes that showcase — and frequently change out — art that’s for sale. “The nice thing about leasing art is you can freshen it up if you get tired of it in a year.”

Leasing fees are based on a percentage of a work’s retail value.

7483 E. 29th Place; 303-355-2431 or Artforleasecolorado.com

Camping gear

It can take years and hundreds, even thousands of dollars to accumulate all the necessary gear to transform a high-country campsite into an outdoor home-away-from-home. And if you’re traveling a long distance for an outdoor adventure? Transporting all that gear can be downright complicated.

The owners of Mountain Side Gear Rental, which specializes in high-end camping and backpacking equipment, argue that these are reasons to rent instead of buy.

“For a family of four to get premium camping gear at REI, that could be a couple grand,” says owner John Hildebrandt. “But a family of four can rent a complete car camping kit for less than $200 for a weekend.”

Renters can use the gear for as long as they like, and this company will ship gear to wherever the customer wants, which is why this option has become popular with tourists coming to Colorado.

It’s not so much a rental program as it is a free “check-out” program, says longtime Aspen Animal Shelter owner Seth Sachson.

Nonetheless, media outlets nationwide seek out Sachson to talk about how Aspen tourists and residents alike can experience the joy of time spent with a dog without actually owning one.

“It not only benefits the people who are having fun and enjoying their day with a dog,” he says, “it benefits the animals because they’re getting exercised, socialized, and some of them even end up getting adopted.”

Sachson gets repeat pet-checkout visits from people who live places where they cannot own pets, and parents who share custody and want a pet only for their days with the kids.

Checking out a pooch for a walk or a hike around Aspen also makes for a great first date, Sachson adds.

“Basically people call us to give themselves or a special someone a celebrity experience,” says Party with the Paparazzi owner Reenie Czys. “We can be waiting for someone outside of a restaurant, or get them as they’re pulling up to a birthday party.”

Requests to send a swarm of shooters to red carpet events and high-end fund-raisers are most common.

While Czys is based outside of New York City, she says that her company can call on a national network of vetted photographers and videographers to fill paparazzi rental orders all over the country. Prices for the service start at about $395 and go up from there.

partywiththepaparazzi.com

Sewer camera

Sure, you can hire someone to survey your sewer line, but why not do it yoursef?

Backhoes, tractors and fork lifts are just a few of the types of industrial equipment available to rent from companies like Arapahoe Rental. This business, with locations in Littleton and Windsor, also gives customers a brief tutorial on how to operate the machine before letting it off the lot. Plus, those short classes provide the opportunity for company owner Lance White and his staff to evaluate whether a customer has the ability to safely use what they rent.

“If there’s something you need for a home project, home repair or event,” White says, “odds are you can rent it.”

There really isn’t anything you can’t rent for a themed party or event, adds All Seasons Rent-All co-owner Judie Gershaw.

“Nothing seems unusual to me anymore,” Gershaw says after 33 years in the business. Jump castles, popcorn, cotton candy or karaoke machines, field day games and even something called a Chillin’ Table, which serves up icy cold beverages, can all be temporarily secured from this and other party supply outlets.

But perhaps the most familiar offering to those who pass this Greenwood Village outpost is the gorilla suit, because one very similar to those that are for rent has been standing guard outside the front door for years.

“We have people bring their children or dogs to visit him,” Gershaw says. “We have people come up just to take pictures with him. He really does attract attention.”

The kiddo begged for weeks for a toy she just had to have. Mom and dad used it as good-behavior bribery for as long as possible before breaking down and making the purchase.

A week later, that toy is old news.

Parents can get off this spending treadmill by making use of the all-volunteer-run, free Northwest Denver Toy Library, which specializes in educational, creative and instructional toys for kids up to 8 years old.